The first full racing stage of Dakar 2026 gave everyone a proper taste of what lies ahead. Nearly 305 kilometres of rocky, technical terrain put both the crews and their machines to a serious durability test. Martin Macik, together with Frantisek Tomasek and David Svanda, handled the challenge with confidence and brought the MM Technology factory truck home in a strong third place.
From the very start, the crew kept a smart and steady pace, gradually moving up through the field. The scheduled service stop went smoothly, but the sharp rocks in the second half of the stage claimed two tyres, costing a few minutes. Even so, the factory team stayed focused, avoided navigation mistakes and kept the race clean and controlled.
The rally truck nicknamed “Joseph” was pushed hard in the rough conditions, but once again proved its reliability. Aside from minor post-stage checks, everything remained under control — exactly what matters at this early point in the rally. With Stage 1 behind them, the MM Technology factory crew leaves the opener in good shape, full of confidence and ready to take on the longer and even tougher stages still to come.
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